Murray supplied 27 points (12-20 FG, 2-6 3Pt, 1-2 FT), five rebounds, six assists and two steals in 31 minutes during Wednesday's 122-111 victory over the Raptors.
The Pelicans improved to 22-45 behind this big effort from Murray. He's looked sharp since his return to the lineup, posting averages of 17.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.9 steals and 1.3 three-pointers in 26.5 minutes per contest.
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Pelicans' Dejounte Murray: Another strong performance
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Murray amassed 15 points (5-13 FG, 1-5 3Pt, 4-5 FT), eight rebounds, five assists and two steals in 30 minutes during Friday's 118-116 loss to the Suns.
Murray took a seat Thursday in Sacramento for rest reasons but was back in action for the second half of New Orleans' back-to-back set. He played at least 30 minutes for the first time this campaign, continuing to put up strong numbers since making his season debut at the end of February. Murray has scored in double figures and recorded at least one steal in all five appearances thus far, averaging 15.4 points, 6.0 assists, 5.2 rebounds and 1.8 steals in 26.2 minutes a night.
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Pelicans' Dejounte Murray: Cleared to play Friday
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Murray (rest) is available for Friday's game against the Suns.
After missing the front end of this back-to-back set Thursday against the Kings, Murray is set to return to the lineup. With this news, Yves Missi is likely to shift back to the bench for New Orleans.
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Pelicans' Dejounte Murray: Sitting out Thursday
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Murray (reconditioning) is out for Thursday's game against the Kings.
Murray is sitting out the first leg of this back-to-back set. The expectation is that the star guard will be able to return Friday, when the Pelicans face the Suns in Phoenix. Derik Queen figures to start in Murray's place Thursday, and Jeremiah Fears should see an uptick in playmaking responsibilities.
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Pelicans' Dejounte Murray: Available to play Sunday
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Murray (reconditioning) is listed as available for Sunday's game against the Clippers.
As expected, Murray will return to the lineup Sunday after sitting out Saturday's win over the Jazz for injury management. The 29-year-old point guard is being eased back into action after a year-long absence due to a torn Achilles and is not yet cleared for both ends of back-to-back sets. Murray has looked sharp in his first two appearances this season, most recently tallying 17 points, nine assists, and four steals across 26 minutes in Thursday's win over Utah.
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Pelicans' Dejounte Murray: Resting Saturday
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Murray (reconditioning) has been ruled out for Saturday's game against the Jazz.
Murray made his 2025-26 regular-season debut against the Warriors on Tuesday after missing the first 58 games while recovering from a torn Achilles. He'll be sidelined for the first leg of the Pelicans' back-to-back set but has a good chance at being available for Sunday's contest against the Clippers. Bryce McGowens, Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen figure to be the top candidates to enter New Orleans' starting lineup in Murray's absence.
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Pelicans' Dejounte Murray: Continues surge with minutes cap
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Murray ended Thursday's 129-118 victory over Utah with 17 points (5-12 FG, 2-7 3Pt, 5-5 FT), three rebounds, nine assists, one block and four steals across 26 minutes.
Murray turned in another solid total in his second game following a one-year absence, and he's showing no lingering effects of the Achilles injury or extended time off. However, the Pelicans will probably play it safe with Murray at some point during the upcoming back-to-back set, and he continues to operate under a minutes limit despite starting his first two appearances of the campaign.
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Pelicans' Dejounte Murray: Fares well in debut
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Murray (Achilles) provided 13 points (5-11 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 2-2 FT), three assists, two rebounds and one steal across 25 minutes during Tuesday's 113-109 win over the Warriors.
Playing in his first game since Jan. 31, 2025 after completing his recovery from surgery to repair a torn right Achilles tendon, Murray stepped right into the starting five and delivered a fine performance, taking into account how much time he missed. Heading into Tuesday, interim head coach James Borrego told Erin Summers of the Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network that he had a plan regarding how much playing time Murray would receive, and the point guard's restriction ended up being 25 minutes. The Pelicans will likely proceed cautiously with ramping Murray up and are expected to hold him out for one half of future back-to-back sets, but it may take the 29-year-old just a few more games before he's consistently playing over 30 minutes.
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Pelicans' Dejounte Murray: Starting in season debut
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Murray (Achilles) will start at point guard in his season debut Tuesday against Golden State, Jake Madison of the "Locked On Pelicans" podcast reports.
Murray will take the court for the first time since Jan. 31, 2025 after a lengthy recovery from a torn right Achilles tendon. The Pelicans will monitor his playing time closely, but Murray doesn't have a specific minute restriction in place. Derik Queen will shift to the bench to make room for Murray in the starting five.
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Pelicans' Dejounte Murray: Available for Tuesday
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Murray (Achilles) has been cleared to play Tuesday against Golden State.
Murray said after Monday's practice that he would make his season debut Tuesday, and the team has now officially confirmed it. Given that the 29-year-old point guard last played in an NBA game Jan. 31, 2025 before undergoing surgery to repair his torn right Achilles tendon, he'll likely be facing strict limitations with his playing time for at least his first few games coming off the injury. The Pelicans could also bring Murray off the bench Tuesday to better manage his workload.
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Pelicans' Dejounte Murray: Ready to make season debut
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Murray (Achilles) said Monday that he'll play in Tuesday's game against the Warriors, Erin Summers of the Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network reports.
It sets the stage for Murray to make his highly anticipated return to the court after rupturing his Achilles in January of last year. The star guard may not start in his season debut, but he could eventually force someone like Saddiq Bey or Herbert Jones into a reserve role. Considering it's been over a full calendar year since Murray last suited up, he's likely to face a significant minutes restriction Tuesday.
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Pelicans' Dejounte Murray: Out Saturday
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Murray (Achilles) has been ruled out for Saturday's game against the 76ers.
Murray appears to be nearing a return to game action after tearing his Achilles in January 2025, though he won't play Saturday. His next opportunity to make his season debut will come Tuesday against the Warriors.
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Pelicans' Dejounte Murray: Doubtful Saturday
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Murray (Achilles) is listed as doubtful for Saturday's game against the 76ers.
Murray tore his Achilles in January 2025 and has yet to make his season debut. While he's expected to return in the near future, the 29-year-old point guard is unlikely to do so Saturday. If Murray is ultimately ruled out, his next opportunity to suit up will come Tuesday against the Warriors.
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Pelicans' Dejounte Murray: Nearing return to action
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Murray (Achilles) is expected to make his season debut at some point in the next week, Erin Summers of the Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network reports.
After tearing his Achilles in January of last year, Murray is in the final stages of his rehab while fully participating in practice. Although the star guard is closing in on making his first appearance of the 2025-26 campaign, Murray is almost certainly bound for a significant minutes restriction for at least his first several games back on the court. Murray's eventual return is likely to cut into the playing time of Jeremiah Fears at point guard.
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Pelicans' Dejounte Murray: Participates at practice Sunday
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Murray (Achilles) participated in Sunday's practice, Will Guillory of The Athletic reports.
This is the first time that Murray has participated in a practice since tearing his Achilles in January 2025, so this is a significant step in his rehab. He'll likely need to get through multiple full-contact practices before he's cleared to return, but it does seem like there's a chance Murray will be able to get back to the court at some point this season.
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Pelicans' Dejounte Murray: Season debut not imminent
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Pelicans head coach James Borrego said Sunday that Murray (Achilles) is "making a lot of progress" but doesn't appear to be close to making his season debut, Rod Walker of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports. "We hope to get him back in our building here soon. He's doing a lot of work getting ready to get back here," Borrego said of Murray. "I say in the next month we'll have a little bit more clarity on where he's at. But he's made a lot of progress. Significant progress."
For his part, Murray -- who underwent surgery Feb. 5, 2025 to address his torn right Achilles tendon -- hasn't provided an update since the Pelicans' media availability day back in September regarding where he stands in his rehab program. The 29-year-old hasn't necessarily hit any snags in his recovery, but Borrego noted that he couldn't "say for sure" that Murray will play any point in 2025-26 until the Pelicans get a chance to evaluate him live on the court during practices or scrimmages. At the very least, Borrego's comment about the Pelicans hoping to have more clarity on Murray's status in the next month would seem to indicate that New Orleans isn't counting on Murray making it back before the All-Star break in mid-February. In the meantime, rookie first-round pick Jeremiah Fears will continue to serve as the Pelicans' starting point guard amid Murray's absence.
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Pelicans' Dejounte Murray: Could return around January
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ESPN's Shams Charania reported Wednesday that Murray (Achilles) could return right after New Year's, according to Pelicans Film Room.
"He is making progress. He is doing better. Every single day, he is doing a little more," Charania said. "I would look at right after New Year's as to where Dejounte Murray could pinpoint to make his return." Recent reports regarding Murray have been positive, but it's essential to note that he'll likely face significant restrictions once he receives clearance to return. With his upside and impressive fantasy resume, however, he'll certainly be worth stashing in most formats.
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Pelicans' Dejounte Murray: Remains without return timetable
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Murray's (Achilles) rehab is going well, but there remains no timetable for his return to action, Erin Summers of the Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network reports.
Murray was diagnosed with a torn right Achilles tendon back on Jan. 31, and it remains unclear how close he is to returning to the court. The star guard figures to at least be limited in training camp this fall, though it's possible be may not be cleared to participate in any significant capacity. Until Murray is ready to suit up for the Pelicans, Jordan Poole should serve as the top point guard while rookie Jeremiah Fears and veteran Jose Alvarado fight for the backup role.
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Pelicans' Dejounte Murray: Tears Achilles, out for season
Rotowire
Murray was diagnosed with a torn right Achilles tendon after exiting in the first quarter of Friday's 118-116 loss to the Celitcs and will miss the rest of the season, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.
Murray went down with a non-contact injury with just under four minutes remaining in the first quarter and needed to be carried to the locker room. Early tests have confirmed the Pelicans' worst fears, and the 28-year-old point guard's first season in New Orleans will come to an end with him having appeared in 31 of the team's first 49 games while averaging 17.5 points (on a career-worst 39.3 percent shooting from the field), 7.4 assists, 6.5 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.7 three-pointers in 32.6 minutes per contest. Murray will likely undergo surgery in the near future, but given the nature of his injury, he could still face an uphill battle to gain clearance for the start of training camp in the fall. Jose Alvarado started the second half of Friday's game in Murray's stead and should be in store for a big boost in playing time over the rest of the season.
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Pelicans' Dejounte Murray: Won't return Friday
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The Pelicans announced that Murray suffered a lower right leg injury in the first quarter of Friday's game against the Celtics and won't return.
Murray posted four points (2-6 FG), five rebounds and three turnovers in eight minutes before leaving the game with 3:51 remaining in the first quarter after going down with a non-contact injury. Jose Alvarado started the second half in place of Murray, who appears to be at risk of missing additional time due to the injury. The Pelicans will presumably put Murray through further tests before a timeline for his return is established.
